\n<\/p>\n
Just eight English strikers have appeared in the Premier League this season and 22-year-old Chelsea striker Liam Delap is the only one under the age of 26.<\/p>\n
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins performed well as deputy to Kane at Euro 2024, with his semi-final goal helping England reach the final.<\/p>\n
However, he has been rested from this squad to manage an ongoing issue.<\/p>\n
Rooney said: “We talk about how many games players are playing now. We had an opportunity where we don’t need to see Kane, and rest him.<\/p>\n
“Kane shouldn’t play for England again until the World Cup. We don’t need to see him, we know what he can do.”<\/p>\n
Both Rooney and Heskey feel the apparent lack of out-and-out number nines coming through is a sign of the way the game has gone, not just in England but globally.<\/p>\n
“I just think it is purely because they don’t want to play number nines now with the way the game is,” Rooney said.<\/p>\n
“If you look worldwide there’s not many number nines, so it is not just England.”<\/p>\n
He added: “Everyone wants to be a Mo Salah or a Lionel Messi, and playing as a forward now you don’t touch the ball as much – and you have to be ruthless like Erling Haaland is and Kylian Mbappe. <\/p>\n
“There are no number nines out there, even Kane isn’t an out and out nine.”<\/p>\n
Heskey’s sons, Reigan and Jaden, are forwards themselves and made their first-team debuts for Manchester City in September, in the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\n
Heskey, 47, added: “Forwards had to be so much more involved when we were playing. You’d have to chase things into the channel, you’d have to win the flick-ons. <\/p>\n
“Now your two number eights are doing more, your wingers are quite wide, you don’t have to get involved as much now.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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